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Concerns Over Contaminated Water

Right now a lot of nasty looking contaminated water is creeping toward New Mexico.

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Updated: 10:53 PM MDT Aug 6, 2015

Concerns Over Contaminated Water

Right now a lot of nasty looking contaminated water is creeping toward New Mexico.

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Updated: 10:53 PM MDT Aug 6, 2015

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WEBVTT REPORTER LIDA ALIKHANI IS IN FARMINGTON, WHERE PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR AN ORANGE INVASION. LIDA: I'M STANDING NEXT TO THE ANIMAS RIVER IN FARMINGTON AND RIGHT NOW THE WATER IS CLEAR AND LOOKS NORMAL BUT BY TOMORROW , MORNING THAT WON'T BE THE CASE. THIS IS WHAT THE WATER LOOKS LIKE UPSTREAM, ACIDIC ORANGE WATER FILLED WITH IRON AND OTHER METALS. MORE THAN A MILLION GALLONS WORTH. AND IT'S ON ITS WAY TO NEW MEXICO. IT WAS DISGUSTING. LIDA: ONCE THE WATER MAKES IT INTO THE FARMINGTON AREA, IT'LL TAKE AT LEAST 24 HOURS FOR IT TO PASS THROUGH. FORCING MANY PEOPLE TO CANCEL THEIR PLANS TOMORROW. WE WERE GOING TO GO INNER TUBING BUT NOW WE CAN'T, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GO IN THE CONTAMINATED WATER. LIDA: AND OFFICIALS DON'T WANT YOU TO, EITHER. PEOPLE AND PETS ALONG THE ANIMAS ARE BEING ASKED TO STAY AWAY FROM THE RIVER UNTIL THE PLUME PASSES. SCARED FOR MY DOG BECAUSE I ENJOY WALKING THE PARK, AND I'M ALWAYS LEADING HIM TO THE RIVER SO HE CAN DRINK WATER. LIDA: RIGHT NOW THE CITY HAS SHUT DOWN ALL OF THE INTAKE PUMPS TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION. BUT, OFFICIALS WANT TO ASSURE PEOPLE IN THE AREA THAT THIS WILL NOT AFFECT DRINKING WATER. THEY'LL ALSO LET MORE WATER OUT OF THE NAVAJO RESERVOIR TO DILUTE THE CONTAMINATION. NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD UNTIL ACTION 7 NEWS BEGAN ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT SAFETY. THEY TELL US THEY WILL WATCH AND DOCUMENT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FISH IN THE RIVER. JUST AS EVERYONE WATCHES THE ANIMAS, TO SEE WHEN THE ORANGE SLUDGE MAKES ITS APPEARANCE. THE WATER IS TRAVELING 3 MPH. AT THAT SPEED THE CONTAMINATION IS EXPECTED TO REACH FARMINGTON EARLY TOMORROW MORNING. REPORTING AT THE ANIMAS RIVER IN

Concerns Over Contaminated Water

Right now a lot of nasty looking contaminated water is creeping toward New Mexico.